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Saturday surprises at Carolinas Nationals
photo by James Nix
NHRA Funny Car driver John Force talks with fans prior to his third qualifying run during the Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway Saturday afternoon.
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Published: September 19, 2009
CONCORD — - Saturday qualifying created some changes and surprises for today's finals at the Carolinas Nationals.
Top Fuel points leader Antron Brown was bumped from the No. 1 qualifying spot by Larry Dixon, who set a zMax Dragway elapsed time record in the process.
"It was real good," Dixon said. "That was on the right side of things for sure."
Dixon's 3.844 ET nipped Brown's Friday effort of 3.847 for the top spot. Final eliminations are set for today at noon in the opening event of NHRA's Countdown to 1 playoffs.
Brown's track record speed (317.87 mph) from Friday did not fall.
Defending event winner and series champion Tony Schumacher qualified third. He is also third in the season standings.
Cruz Pedregon, who finished just out of the top ten, failing to qualify for the Countdown, led Funny Car qualifying with a 4.087 at 303.91.
"We just didn't get things going this summer and we missed the Countdown," Pedregon said. "I still think that, run for run, we've got one of the best cars out here."
Saturday's last round of trials shook up the Funny Car qualifying order.
Fourteen-time series champion John Force, who failed to make Sunday's eliminations a year ago, moved up five places to second in his last chance Saturday.
Robert Hight wound up third and Tony Pedregon, the Funny Car points leader, qualified fourth.
Ashley Force Hood, who set a zMax speed record of 308.50 mph Friday, qualified seventh.
Ron Capps, who entered the final qualifying round 11th, advanced to sixth with a strong final run. Capps is second in points.
In Pro Stock, Mike Edwards set a track record of 6.614 seconds elapsed time and 208.36 mph speed on Friday for the No. 1 position. He is third in the points standings and gained 10 points through the newly installed qualifying bonus, the most of any driver.
"It's huge," Edwards said. "It can determine the championship. I'm a big fan of this new points system. I relish the opportunity I have."
Not everyone was happy. Greg Anderson, who lives in Concord and is fourth in the points, qualified 11th.
"You would think we'd never been on this racetrack before," Anderson said. "I'm embarrassed."
He wasn't alone in his frustration. Points leader Jeg Coughlin qualified 12th and races points runner-up Jason Line in the first round of eliminations today.
There is a happy precedent for Coughlin, though. He won at Indianapolis two weeks ago after qualifying 12th.
Two Pro Stock drivers who made the Countdown did not qualify for today's finals: Rickie Jones and Ron Krisher.
"What can you say?' Jones said. "Just got behind the eight-ball."
Hector Arana (6.965 at 189.98) paced Pro Stock Motorcycle, ahead of Andrew Hines.
Hines notched eight bonus points and Arana six.
"I was skeptical about the points system," Arana said. "But I'm loving it. I'm having the best time of my life right now."
Arana entered the Countdown third in points, behind leader Eddie Krawiec, who qualified fifth, and Hines.
The Countdown includes six races, except for motorcycles, which compete in five races.
This is the second annual Carolinas Nationals.
Next year, two NHRA events are scheduled at zMax, in March and September.
Eight fans will take part in a history-making event today when they stand behind the starter as Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars race four-wide in an exhibition.
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